regain
Americanverb (used with object)
-
regains,
present (3rd person singular)
-
regained,
past participle, past
-
regaining
present participle
-
to get again; recover.
to regain one's health.
-
to succeed in reaching again; get back to.
to regain the shore.
noun
verb
-
to take or get back; recover
-
to reach again
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
regainernoun
-
half-regainedadjective
-
regainableadjective
-
unregainableadjective
-
unregainedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
regainsimple
-
regainssimple
-
have regainedperfect
-
has regainedperfect
-
am regainingprogressive
-
are regainingprogressive
-
is regainingprogressive
-
have been regainingperfect progressive
-
has been regainingperfect progressive
Past
-
regainedsimple
-
had regainedperfect
-
was regainingprogressive
-
were regainingprogressive
-
had been regainingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of regain
Explanation
After you get off of a crazy carnival ride, you'll probably have to regain your balance, or get it back. Any time you've lost something and want to recover it, you hope to regain it. If your friend is furious with you because you didn't keep a secret she told you, you'll probably try to regain her trust and as a result, regain her friendship.
Vocabulary lists containing regain
Hole in My Life
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Messenger
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Counting by 7s
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Europe need a minimum of 14.5 points to regain the trophy.
From Barron's ● Sep. 12, 2026
Starbucks also has been stressing improved service in an effort to regain customers, along with spending on training, labor and better-looking cafes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026
However, incumbents continue to defend, and in some cases regain, market share.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
And short of guaranteeing that someone gets slapped across the face every year, count on the Oscars to try to regain its distinction while courting viewers however possible.
From Salon ● Sep. 9, 2026
Nathan went to his hands and knees to regain balance.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
Plus, Spain regains control of Ceuta after migrants overrun it, and we go inside the unraveling of Situational Awareness.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
She regains her ability to fly but is never able to communicate with Jiji again.
From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026
Instead of responding only after a treatment fails, doctors may eventually be able to anticipate resistance and act before the tumor regains strength.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
The result was the clear identity of a side less concerned about dominating the ball and more focused on controlling games through pressure, regains and rapid transitions.
From BBC ● Jun. 15, 2026
I look down at our linked fingers as I loosen my grasp, but he regains his grip on me.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
Kevin Warsh, who took the helm at the central bank in May, regained badly needed credibility with the hike after a shaky start to his tenure.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026
Shares were down over 4% early Wednesday but had regained some ground in the afternoon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026
When the Taliban regained power, he became a governor - first in the province of Bamiyan, then when we met him in late June, in Sheberghan city in Jawzjan province.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
As if the fourth quarter weren’t wild enough, the Gaels regained the lead with 6:49 left on a 54-yard touchdown reception by Corey Hinton.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
As I regained my strength I learned what had happened.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
Like all Fed Chairmen, Mr. Warsh will be judged on whether he accomplishes the fundamental duty of regaining and maintaining stable prices.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026
In fast-secularising South Korea, Buddhism is regaining popularity thanks to a "hip" trend wooing Gen Z with festivals, fashion, robots and DJs, even as some fear for the fundamentals of the faith.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
By the end, the Sparks spent the game playing catch-up, never regaining the lead after surrendering it in the first 49 seconds to Johnson.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026
The chipmakers themselves are regaining public confidence thanks to their ability to charge up the wazoo for their very valuable output.
From Slate ● Jul. 2, 2026
Since Gale is regaining consciousness, they decide on an herbal concoction he can take by mouth.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
